[NY 78256682] Roman Signal Station [GS] (Site of) Earthwork [O.E.] (1)

On Barcombe Hill is a pre-Roman univallate settlement, with a Roman signal station in the north west corner. (2)

Excavation of the latter yielded no dateable material. (3)

Scheduled. (4)

The work, correctly described, is in good condition, apart from the north side which has been severely mutilated by 'coffin quarrying'. Resurveyed at 1:2500. (5)

Barcombe Hill Roman 'signal station' was alleged to have contained a timber-built tower according to Sir W Aitchison who trial trenched the site, but no finds were apparently made. Further trenching by I Crawford in the early 1950's revealed a limestone flagged surface cut into the rampart of the enclosing Iron Age fort. A small stone oven, masses of charcoal and sherds of Flavian pottery were also found. Woodfield considered occupation of the 'signal station' to be short and added that evidence for a Flavian signalling system was inadequate; a lookout post, more specifically connected with Chesterholm (NY 76 NE 16) being likely. Plans. (6)

Jobey referred to Sir W Aitchison's excavation notes etc of 1939 which substantiated the evidence of the flagged rampart foundation seen by Crawford (authority 6). No evidence of a timber tower was recorded; the only internal feature being a stretch of paving within the line of the presumed east entrance. Conflation of plans from both 1939 and early 1950s excavations indicated a rectangular turf-built enclosure with rounded corners and single ditch, approximating in size and form to Brownhart Law (NT 70 NE). (7)

NY 783668. Barcombe Hill. Listed as Iron Age univallate hill fort of less than 1 acre. (8)

Roman signal station on Barcombe Hill. NY 783668. (9)

Scheduled. (10)

The site is covered with bracken and the signal station end in particular is at risk from rabbits. It was possible to see part of Vindolanda from the signal station end. (11)

NY 783 668. Barcombe. Listed in gazetteer as a univallate hillfort covering 0.40ha. (12a)

NY 782 669. Camp at Barcombe N of Thorngrafton Common. Scheduled No ND/318. (12b)

The Iron Age hillfort and Roman signal station are visible as earthworks on air photographs and was mapped at a scale of 1:10,000 for Hadrian's Wall NMP project. Since the hillfort has two banks and a ditch it is technically multivallate rather than uninvallate as listed above. The northern ditch has been extensively quarried and the quarry pits extend to the west and east of the site, in total 450 metres in length. The date of this quarrying, although attributed as possibly Roman in date, most probably has been exploited in the post medieval period, as there is extensive post medieval quarrying in the general area. There are traces of post medieval ridge and furrow ploughing in the interior of the hillfort. (12c)

Located on the English Heritage map of Hadrian's Wall 2010. (12d)

General association with HER 12391 (Stanegate), HER 33016 (coal mining site). (12)